ROLLA, Mo., April 22, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Christian Coaches Network (CCN), an association of professional Christian coaches, is pleased to announce the recent recipients of its esteemed Christian coach credentials. Joining an elite cadre of just over 100 Christian coaches worldwide, Janice LaVore-Fletcher and Bryan Pettet were awarded the Certified Professional Christian Coach in the first quarter of this year. Ben Vander Kodde and Mark Burns were awarded the Certified Christian Coach credential.

"On behalf of CCN, it is with great pleasure that we recognize the achievements of these talented and skillful coaches. Professionals who earn CCN credentials are raising the standard of Christian coaching to new heights," said Executive Director, Marcie Thomas. "Their achievements help raise awareness about the importance of this credential in the Christian community and underscore the commitment to earning a designation that sets them apart as professional coaches living out their faith at a level of high accountability."

A special note of recognition goes to the training schools of these distinguished coaches; the Professional Christian Coaching Institute, the University of Texas at Dallas Executive and Professional Coaching Program, Grace Empowerment Coaching and the Christian Coach Institute.

"CCN is proud to recognize the efforts of the training schools who serve the coaching industry with specific rigor in the area of applying Christian principles within the profession," said Thomas. "We are fortunate to have an entire network of qualified schools within CCN for Christian coaches to consider as they plan their training and pathway to earn credentials."

To earn the CCN credential, coaches must have at least 60 hours of documented industry standard coach training, 100 or more hours of documented coaching experience, mentor coaching, have the recommendation of professionally credentialed peers in the industry, and must pass an oral coaching exam. CCN members receive sizable discounts on credentialing fees to support their professional growth and career development.

"Our alignment with industry coaching standards is congruent," said Thomas. "Where we offer an essential distinction is in our focus on how faith integrates with coaching. No other coach credentialing organization addresses issues of faith and its influence in the coaching practice."

About the Christian Coaches Network Since 1998, CCN has advocated and promoted the highest standards of excellence and ethics in professional coaching practice. CCN is the leading credentialing agency in the field of professional Christian coaching with three levels of certification and carries the distinction of excellence in the Christian Coaching industry. Credentialing is a voluntary submission process in which an unbiased, 3rd party assessor validates knowledge, skills and abilities. As such, credentials are earned by coaches who meet the rigor of professionalism, honor the role of faith and apply the highest coaching standards in their client interactions. More information on CCN is available at www.christiancoaches.com.